Graft ligament anchor and method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone

Abstract

A graft ligament anchor includes a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends. A flange is attached to the tubular body at the proximal end thereof and extends radially outwardly beyond the tubular body. A deformable wall is disposed in the tubular body bore and defines, at least in part, a chamber for retaining the graft ligament therein. An expansion device is configured for insertion into the tubular body axially of the tubular body, and for impinging upon the deformable wall to press the deformable wall, and hence the graft ligament received in the chamber, toward a wall of the bore, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the tubular body.

1. A graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends;  
 an annular flange attached to said tubular body at the proximal end thereof and extending radially outwardly beyond said body;  
 a deformable wall mounted on an inside surface of the tubular body bore and in conjunction with the tubular body inside surface defining a chamber extending lengthwise of said tubular body for receiving a graft ligament therein; and  
 an expansion device for insertion into said tubular body, axially of said tubular body, for impinging upon said deformable wall so as to press said deformable wall, and hence the graft ligament received in the chamber, toward the tubular body inside surface, whereby to fix the graft ligament in said tubular body.  
 
   
   
     2. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 1  wherein said graft ligament anchor comprises a further deformable wall, each of said deformable walls defining in part of a chamber, each of the chambers being adapted to retain a graft ligament therein. 
   
   
     3. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 2  wherein said expansion device comprises a wedge-shaped device for insertion between opposed ones of said deformable walls so as to press said opposed deformable walls outwardly from each other and toward the inside surface of the bore. 
   
   
     4. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 3  wherein said wedge-shaped device comprises a screw. 
   
   
     5. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 1  wherein said tubular body is provided with an opening extending through a side of said body and said chamber. 
   
   
     6. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 5  wherein said opening comprises an elongated slot. 
   
   
     7. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 1  wherein a pair of arms extend axially and proximally from the proximal end of said body, and said annular flange is fixed to proximal ends of said arms. 
   
   
     8. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 7  wherein said body is provided with an opening through a side wall thereof and extending into the chamber. 
   
   
     9. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 1  wherein said expansion device is adapted to press the graft ligament in the chamber against the inside surface of the tubular body bore. 
   
   
     10. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 1  wherein said tubular body is provided with interior ridges disposed on the inside surface of the bore. 
   
   
     11. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 1  wherein said tubular body is expandable width-wise. 
   
   
     12. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 3  wherein said wedge-shaped device is provided with a textured surface. 
   
   
     13. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 3  wherein said wedge-shaped device comprises a mandrel. 
   
   
     14. A method for securing a graft ligament in a bone tunnel having an end opening on a bone surface, a free end of the graft ligament extending out of the bone tunnel end opening, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a graft ligament anchor comprising: 
 a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends, said tubular body being adapted for placement in a bone tunnel proximate an opening thereof on a bone surface;  
 stop apparatus connected to said tubular body for preventing movement of said tubular body further into the bone tunnel after placement of said tubular body in the opening and the bone tunnel; and  
 an expansion device for insertion into said tubular body axially of said tubular body, for impinging upon the graft ligament so as to press the graft ligament toward the tubular body, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the tubular body;  
 
 extending the graft ligament free end through said tubular body;  
 placing said tubular body in the end opening and in the bone tunnel such that said stop apparatus engages the bone;  
 pulling the graft ligament taut; and  
 inserting said expansion device into said tubular body and advancing said expansion device therein to press the graft ligament toward the wall of the bore, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the bone tunnel.  
 
   
   
     15. A graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a tubular body having a bore therethrough ad proximal and distal ends;  
 an annular flange attached to said tubular body at the proximal end thereof and extending radially outwardly beyond said body;  
 a plurality of deformable walls, each defining at least in part a chamber, each of the chambers being adapted to retain a graft ligament therein;  
 an expansion device for insertion into said tubular body, axially of said body, for impinging upon said deformable walls so as to press said deformable walls, and hence the graft ligaments received in the chambers, toward a wall of the bore, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the tubular body;  
 wherein said expansion device comprises a wedge-shaped screw for insertion between opposed ones of said deformable walls so as to press said opposed deformable walls outwardly from each other and toward the wall of the bore.  
 
   
   
     16. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 15  wherein said tubular body is provided with openings, each extending through a side of said body and a chamber. 
   
   
     17. A graft ligament anchor according to  claim 16  wherein the openings each comprise an elongated slot. 
   
   
     18. A graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends;  
 an annular flange attached to said tubular body at the proximal end thereof and extending radially outwardly beyond said body;  
 a deformable wall disposed in the tubular body bore and defining, at least in part, a chamber for receiving a graft ligament therein; and  
 an expansion device for insertion into said tubular body, axially of said body, for impinging upon said deformable wall so as to press said deformable wall, and hence the graft ligament received in the chamber, toward a wall of the bore, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the tubular body;  
 wherein a pair of arms extend axially and proximally from the proximal end of said body, and said annular flange is fixed to proximal ends of said arms; and  
 wherein said body is provided with an opening through a side wall thereof and extending into the chamber.  
 
   
   
     19. A graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends;  
 an annular flange attached to said tubular body at the proximal end thereof and extending radially outwardly beyond said body;  
 a deformable wall disposed in the tubular body bore and defining, at least in part, a chamber for receiving the graft ligament therein; and  
 an expansion device for insertion into said tubular body, axially of said body, for impinging upon said deformable wall so as to press said deformable wall, and hence the graft ligament received in the chamber, toward a wall of the bore, whereby to fix the graft ligament in said tubular body;  
 wherein said tubular body is provided with interior ridges disposed on the wall of the bore.  
 
   
   
     20. A graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends;  
 an annular flange attached to said tubular body at said proximal end thereof and extending radially outwardly beyond said body;  
 deformable walls, each defining at least in part a chamber, each of the chambers being adapted to retain a graft ligament therein;  
 an expansion device for insertion into said tubular body, axially of said body, for impinging upon said deformable walls so as to press said deformable walls, and hence the graft ligaments received in the chambers, toward a wall of the bore, whereby to fix the graft ligaments in the tubular body;  
 wherein said expansion device comprises a wedge-shaped device for insertion between opposed ones of said deformable walls so as to press said opposed deformable walls outwardly from each other and toward the wall of the bore; and  
 wherein said wedge-shaped device is provided with a textured surface.  
 
   
   
     21. A graft ligament anchor comprising:
 a tubular body having a bore therethrough and proximal and distal ends;  
 an annular flange attached to said tubular body at said proximal end thereof and extending radially outwardly beyond said body;  
 deformable walls, each defining at least in part a chamber, each of the chambers being adapted to retain a graft ligament therein;  
 an expansion device for insertion into said tubular body, axially of said body, for impinging upon said deformable walls so as to press said deformable walls, and hence the graft ligaments received in said chambers, toward a wall of said bore, whereby to fix the graft ligament in the tubular body;  
 wherein said expansion device comprises a wedge-shaped device for insertion between opposed ones of said deformable walls so as to press said opposed deformable walls outwardly from each other and toward said wall of said bore; and  
 wherein said wedge-shaped device comprises a mandrel.